Compressed-air recuperator for guns



E. SCHNEIDER. COMPRESSED AIR RECUPERATOR I'(lR'GUNS.v

APPLICATION FILED DEC,.2B, 1920.

Ptllted July 4, 1922;.

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" fw f 5 22 M @MA E. SCHNEIDER. COMPRESSED AIR RECUPERATOR FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.28, 1920. 1,421,576., Patented July 4,1922.

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APPLICATION FILEDk 'DECs 28, H320.

Patented July f4, 1922.

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EUGENE SCHNEIDER., or raars, Enanos, Assienon ro SCHNEIDER, a ein., on Ramsj FRANCE, A LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY or FRANCE.

COMPRESSED-.AIR RECUBERATOR FOR GUNS.

Application filed liecemberV 28, 1920.

To cI-ZZ whom it may cm2-cern.'

Be it known that I. EUGNE SCHNEIDER, citizen of the `lic-public of France, resident of. Paris, France.A have invented new and useful Improvements in Compressed-Air Recupcrators tor Guns, which invention is fully set forth in the following specifica tion.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved compressed air recuperator for guns, of the type comprising an air reservoir fixed to the stationary part ot the gun or to the recoiling part, and wherein a piston is adapted to work having its rod attached to the said recoiling part or to the said stationary part respectively.

The improved recuperator is characterized essentially by the feature that the air is kept confined therein between the inner wall of the reservoir and the wall of the piston rod by means of pistons comprising annular hydraulic joints having movable heads, arranged in the annular space comprised between the said reservoir and the piston rod. According to this invention these joints are also so constructed that the state of the charge of liquid can be ascertained at any time without taking the ap-paratus to pieces.

Various constructional forms of this invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which 2- Figs. l and la are longitudinal vertical sections of one example ot the application of the improved recuperator; the section be ing taken on the line l-l of Figs. 2 and 3 which are respectively cross sections on the lines 2 2 and 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 1a respectively.

Fig. 4- is a partial elevation of a detail.

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic sections illustrating the application of the invention to a gun with differential recoil.

Figs. 7 and 7 are vertical longitudinal sections ot another constructional form of this invention.

1n these figures A is a reservoir which in the examples shown, is assumed to be attached to the stationary part of the gun. This reservoir is formed as an annulus around a rod B which is fixed to the recoiling` part, for instance the slide C. The compressed air is confined between the inner wall (.1. ot the reservoir A and the wall of the rod B which latter may have a recess Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July el. 1922.

Serial No. 433,660.

lil communicating with the annular space A1 through a hole Z). As a matter of fact the air is confined in the space Al-B1 by a pair of pistons slidably mounted in spaced relation on the rod B and comprising two hydraulic joints having movable heads7 the joints being` arranged in the annular space between the wall c and the wall of the rod B. Each of these joints comprises an inner disc (l). D1 respectively) constituting the movable head, that serves as an abutment on its inner 'face for joint paclrings `Z d1 and on its outer surface for packings e, el, respectively. i

The packings CZ, consisting for instance, of cupped leathers, are kept tightened by means ot; rings F screwed on a collar f formed as a projection on the disc D.

rlhe packings c are arranged inside and outside an annular member (E, El respectively) projecting externally from the disc (D. D1).

The hydraulic oint is formed between the packing e and packings g that close the annular spaces comprised between the inner wall of the said annular member and the outer wall of the rod B.

Rings H` H press these packings g, g against an abutment ring- (I. 11 respectively) which bears normally with its outer end against the corresponding end of the reservoir A. The abutment ring I is formed with a recess yi that serves as a guide for the annular member E; the said recess t' communicates with the atmosphere by way of passages J through which extend extensions K projecting from the annular member E.

The charging of the recuperator with air is effected through a passage b1 that is nor mally closed by a plug B2. The charging with liquid, of the hydraulic joint of the left hand movable head is effected through a passage b2 formed in the rod B and normally closed by a plug B3. rllhe charging of the right band hydraulic joint is effected through the passage al which is pierced in the wall ot' the reservoir A and is normally closed by a plug A2. The extensions K K1 are made of such length as will make their ends flush with the corresponding` end of the reservoir A, when, the reservoir having been charged with air,'the liquid fills suitably the space between the packings e and g for one of the j oints, and el, g1, for the other joint. Any loss of liquid would be indicated by the projecting of the extensions and would notify the gun servers that the joints require recharging. c

The liquid contained in chambers L, L1, is subjected to the pressure that is transmitted to it by the discs D, D1. However thc pressure exerted upon the inner faces of the discs is transmitted to the outer surface7 which latter is diminished by the sections of the respective annular members E and El. with the result that the packings e el are subjected to a. higher pressure from the side of the liquid. This fact prevents completely any leakage of the air.

In the example shown in Figs. l. to Ll, the air contined in la- B1 is compressed by the recoil owing to the fact that the rod Ba draws with it by means of its shoulder i3, the abutment ring I, and through the latter the hydraulic joint of the left hand movable head. On the completionV of the recoil the return of the gun into battery position, is effected by the action of the expansion of the air that was compressed by the recoil in ril-B1.

When the improved recuperator is applied to a gun having a differential recoil, the slide C is coupled up for loading the projectile into the gun breech during the return of the gun into battery position; then the slide is uncoupled aga-in, and the gun is fired; a portion of thc momentum of the mass returning into battery position being utilized to impart velocity to the whole of the rccoiling mass,v thus finally reducing the force required for braking. In the case of a mis- Ere the recoiling mass is thrown forwards with an excessive force which necessitates the use of a shock-absorbing brake.

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically in full lines the position of the parts of the recuper ator when the slide (il, with the whole of the recoiling mass, is coupled-up in the return into battery position for loading the projectile into the (fun breech. After this loading, the return of the gun into battery position is completed, and the gun is fired. the parts having taken up normally the position indicated in dot-and-dash lines in the same Figli.

The recoil takes place as soon as the gun is tired. In the case of a misere the movable portion, instead of recoiling` tends on the contrary to continue its vForward morcment. In such a case the abutment disc l1 with the right hand situated hydraulic joint, is carried along towards the left as shown in Fig. 6, which movement is possible so long as the slide C and the reservoir do not meet. Such meeting however is not possible because the air confined between thc two hydraulic joints is compressed and acts as Aa shock-absorber.

It will thus be perceived that the Vrecuperator, applied to thegun having` a differential recoil, acts as a shock-absorber or brake in the case of mis-lirej that is to say reversely to what takes place with the usual recuperators.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modification wherein the compressed air is confined between the end of a reservoir A, the end B1 of a hollow plunger B, and an annular hydraulic joint with a movable head D-ll-F arranged between the inner wall a of the reservoir and the outer wall of the plunger. The compression of the air in this case is due to the entry of the. plunger into the reservoir A during the recoil. The charging with air takes place throughY a passage agbf the reservoir that is nor ally closed by a plug. The charging with the liquid takes place through another passage al of the said reservoir that is normally closed by a plug A2.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, .l declaro that what I claim isl. In a. recuperator for guns having a stationary part and a movable part, aA reservoir attached to one of said parts, a hollow rod attachedl to the other of said parts and extending within said reservoir, said hollow rod. 'having communication with said reservoir and being adapted to receive a fluid under compression, and means confining the fluid between the inner surface of the reser voir and the wall of said hollow rod, said means comprising a pair of packing members slidably mounted in spaced relation on said rod, one of the packing members being movable with said rod to compress the fluid on rearward movement of the lgun and the other packing member being movable with said rod to compress the fluid on forward movement of the gun.

Q. ln a compressed air recuperator for `guns having a stationary part and a movable part., a reservoir attached to one of said parts, a hollow rod attached to the other oli said parts and extending within said reservoir, said rodrhaving communication with the inte 1ior of the reservoir and being adapted to receive compressed air. and means surrounding said hollow rod and confining the compressed air between the inner surface of the reservoirl and the wall of the hollow rod, said means comprising hydraulic packing the movable head type, a movable head of said packing being provided with an extension normally projecting from the reservoir for indicating the volumc'of liquid within the packing.

il. ln a. recuperator for guns having a stationary part and a movable part. a reseri voir attachedv to one of said parts, a hollow rod attached to the other of said parts and extending within said reservoir. said hollow yrod having communication with the interior of t-he reservoir and being adapted to receive ai fluid under compression, and means-confining the fluid between .theinner surface of the reservoir and the wall of the hollow rod, said means comprising a pair ol' hydraulic packing units of the movable head type slidably mounted on said hollow rod, and arranged in the .annular space between the reservoir and the said hollow rod, one of said hydraulic packing units being movable with said hollow rod to compress the fluid on rearward movement vof the gun and the other of said packing units being movable with said rod to compress the fluid on forward movement `or the gun, and means on the movable heads of said packing units normally extending from the reservoir for indicating the volume of liquid within said packing units.

41;, In a recuperator for guns having a stationary part and a movable part7 a reservoir attached to one of said parts, a hollow rod attached to the other of said parts and extending within said reservoir, said hollow. rod having communication with the interior of the reservoir, means providing for charging of the reservoir and hollow rod with a fluid hydraulic packing of the movable head type surrounding said hollow rod and conlining the fluid between the inner surface ot' the reservoir and the wall of the hollow rod, said hydraulic packing including a member rigidly connected with the wall of said reservoir.y the movable head of the hydraulic packing unit being provided with extensions projecting beyond the reservoir for indicating the volume ot liquid within said packing unit.

In a recuperator for guns having a stationary part and a movable part, a reservoir attached to one of said parts, a hollow piston rod attached to the other of said parts and extending` within said reservoir, said piston rod being adapted to receive a fluid under compression and communicating with said reservoir throughout the recoil and running out oit the gung and means for confining a fluid between the inner surface of the reservoir and the wall of the piston rod` said means comprising` a pair of spaced pistons slidably mounted on the piston rod and arranged in the annular space between the reservoir and the piston rod.

6. In a recuperator for guns having a stationary part and a movable part, a reservoir attached to one ot said parts a hollow rod attached to the other of said parts` and eX- tending within said reservoir` said hollow rod being adapted to receive a fluid under compression and communicating with said reservoir throughout the recoil and running out ot the gun` and means for conlining the fluid within the reservoir and the hollow roch said means comprising a pair of spaced packingmembers slidably mounted on said hollow rod, and arranged in the annular space between the reservoir and the hollow rod, one of the packing members being movable with said rod 'to compress the fluid on rearward movement of thel gun and the other packing member being movable with said rod to compress the fluid on 'forward movement of the gun.

T. In a recuperator for guns having a tionary part and a movable part,`a reservoir attached to one of said parts, a hollow rod attached to the other of said parts and extending within said reservoir, said hollow rod having communication with said reservoir and being adapted to receive a fluid under compression, and means carried by the hollow rod for confining the iuid within said rod and the reservoir, said means comprising hydraulic packing of the movable head type, a movable head of said packing being provided with an extension normally projecting from the reservoir for indicating the volume of liquid within the packing.

8. In a recuperator for guns having a stationary part and a movable part, a reservoir attached to one of said parts, a piston rod attached to the other of said parts and eX- tending within said reservoir, and means for confining a fluid between surfaces of the reservoir' and said piston rod, said means comprising a pair of spaced pistons slidably mounted on the piston rod and arranged in the annular space between the reservoir and said rod.

9. In a recuperator Jfor guns having a. stationary part and a movable part, a reservoir attached to one of said parts.y a piston rod attached to the other of said parts and eX- tending within said reservoir, and means for conlining a Huid between surfaces of the reservoir and said piston rod during the recoil and running out of the gun, said means comprising a pair of spaced pistons slidablv mounted on the piston rod and arranged within the reservoir7 one of said pistons being movable with the piston rod to compress the fluid on recoil of the gun and the other of said pistons being movable with the piston rod to compress the fluid on running out of the gun.

10. In a recuperator for guns having a stationary part and a movable part, a reservoir attached to one of said part-s, a piston rod attached to the other of said parts and extending` within said reservoir, and means for confining a fluid between surfaces of the reservoir and said piston rod, said means comprising a pair of spaced pistons slidably mounted on the piston rod, each of said pistons comprising a hydraulic packing unit of the movable head type.

11. In a recuperator for guns having a stationary part and a movable part. a reservoir attached to one of said parts` a hollow piston rod attached to the other of said parts, and extending within said reservoir, said hollow under compression and communicating with( Said reservoir throughout the recoil and running out of the gun, means for confining the Huid between the inner surface of the reservoir and the wall of the hollow piston rod, said means comprising a pair of spaced hydraulic packing members slidably mounted on the piston rod rand arranged in the annular space between the reservoir and said rod, and means on said packing members normally extending beyond the reservoir for indicating the volume of liquid in said members.

Dated this 23rd day of November 1920. 15 In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

EUGNE SCHNEIDER. Witnesses:

ANDR Mos'rroKER, LOUIS GARDET. 

